Compressiceps Cichlid
Altolamprologus compressiceps
Cichlidae
About
The compressiceps cichlid is a strikingly slab-sided, rock-dwelling predator from Lake Tanganyika, its extremely narrow body and armoured scales letting it slip into tight crevices to pluck out shrimp and fry. Slow and deliberate rather than boisterous, it hangs almost motionless near the rockwork before striking with a large, extensible mouth. It is best kept as a bonded pair in a hard, alkaline, rock-scaped tank of its own.
Care
Provide a mature tank of 200 L or more with hard, alkaline water (pH 8-9) and generous piled rockwork for cover and ambush points. Keep as a single pair; slow and stealthy, so never house it with shrimp or fish small enough to be swallowed.
Diet
Specialist carnivore that ambushes shrimp, crustaceans and small fish among rocks. Feed varied meaty frozen and live foods plus carnivore pellets; avoid feeder fish.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (4)
Possible with care (91)
Avoid (176)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Compressiceps Cichlid need?
- A Compressiceps Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Compressiceps Cichlid need?
- Compressiceps Cichlid does best at 24–28 °C (75.2–82.4 °F), pH 7.8–9 and a general hardness of 8–25 °dGH.
- Is the Compressiceps Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Compressiceps Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.